Probiotic Health Claims Dismissed (finally...)

I've noted many vegan (and non-vegan) bloggers extolling the wonders of "probiotics," in drinks, yogurts, to freeze-dried nonsense.  I've been amazed at the number of health claims made and how little (if any) are substantiated (not unlike that of the "foreign tropical fruit with anxiodant of the day" childishness).  The focus on a single micronutrient, to the exclusion of synergic interactions in the original source with other substances, is, imho, narrow-minded.

The European Union has weighed in on the matter in a rather significant way.  It's also important to note that, unlike in the U.S., since there's universal health care, it's in the government's interest to (a) get serious about health claims and (b) try to help people be as healthy as they can (one of the reasons there's often less salt and sugar in the SAME food product produced and sold in the U.S., then shipped to the EU).

Here's an excerpt from the article of interest (full article HERE and below):

General health claims for "probiotic" drinks and yogurts have been dismissed by a team of experts from the European Union.  Their opinions will now be voted on by an EU Committee which is drawing up a list of permitted health claims.  Scientists at the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) looked at 180 health claims for the supplements.  They rejected 10 claims and said a further 170 had not provided enough evidence of their effects...

EFSA is reviewing all health claims made for food products following the introduction of a new EU law in 2006 which stipulated that all medical-sounding marketing claims must be verified.  The European Commission will eventually consider the list drawn up by the EU committee and develop legislation which will be voted on by member states..."

THE TAKE-AWAY MESSAGE:  don't believe any health-related claims without reasonable and sourced evidence.  People blogging nutritional advice without without doing so are probably altogether too trusting of probable food company hype (and quotes from a company's website).  With the Internet and various search engines, there's just no excuse not to take a few minutes and see what the truth or probable truth is... and always, "follow the money."

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FULL ARTICLE:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/8286646.stm

Probiotic health claims dismissed

General health claims for "probiotic" drinks and yogurts have been dismissed by a team of experts from the European Union.

Their opinions will now be voted on by an EU Committee which is drawing up a list of permitted health claims.

Scientists at the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) looked at 180 health claims for the supplements.

They rejected 10 claims and said a further 170 had not provided enough evidence of their effects.

The manufacturers of best-selling yogurt drinks Actimel and Yakult have submitted claims that will be considered at a later stage.

EFSA is reviewing all health claims made for food products following the introduction of a new EU law in 2006 which stipulated that all medical-sounding marketing claims must be verified.

The European Commission will eventually consider the list drawn up by the EU committee and develop legislation which will be voted on by member states.

No products or health claims will change until that legislation is published.

Albert Flynn, who chairs the EFSA panel which looked at these claims, said the first stage had been to look at general health claims for the products.

More specific claims from individual manufacturers will be considered next.

He said: "It's been an issue for some time that general health claims are made about these products using the family name for the active ingredient and not saying which member of the family is in the pot.

"We expect the claims that will come now from the companies will be much more specific."

A Yakult spokesman said: "Yakult has submitted claims for Lactobacillus casei Shirota, a well characterised probiotic strain unique to Yakult.

"Evidence for its health benefit is based on over 70 human studies and over 70 years of research.

"Opinions on claims submitted for this strain are not expected until 2010."

Comments

[Pearl]

that's good to hear.

had noticed the salt difference in food.
for sugar it was hard to tell since drinks are tending to nectars in Europe and I'm used to more dilute juices.

[vgpedlr]

Interesting article concerning different approaches of the US and EU. You wrote that European formulations of products are different than ours. Can you cite an example or two? I never knew that. How about Canada? They are part of North America, but with different health care than us. Who do they resemble more?

[I don't remember the specific reference (ironically) but that I put it in an issue of the Mad Cowboy Newsletter:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mad_Cowboy/

There's a search engine there that might help (salt or sodium, pizza?).

http://www.worldactiononsalt.com/media/recent_press_releases.htm

Shows differences, but not necessarily of the type I'm noting. I seem to recall something about fast food being different in nutritional content, too.

Sorry, but that's the best I do right now. I'm way overcommitted on time for a couple of weeks ('cept trying to blog once in awhile). If I find anything, I'll post it.

But, and you'll have to call it heresay for now (!), I'm fairly confident that I remember there is a difference. The EU has higher standards on hormones in meat, food labeling, and recommended amounts of various aspects of food (sodium, sugar, etc.). They trend towards being stricter, and sooner.

Tks for your feedback... Best, Mark]

[veganwoman]

Wow, this is quite interesting! I am going to look into this more. Thank you so much for the post!